Perry: Texas could team up with other states to fight EPA

Gov. Rick Perry suggested Texas could team up with other states in its effort to fight the EPA’s rejection of key elements of the state’s air permitting program.

Another lawsuit may not be needed after the EPA disapproved flexible permits, since Texas already had filed a case after the federal agency rejected another rule, Perry said.

But he said he’d consult with Attorney General Greg Abbott to see if there are “further efforts that we need to be making — if we need to be joining with other states, because my inclination here is that if they do this to Texas, then Louisiana is next, then Mississippi is next, then California is next.”

“I can’t believe that those state governors and those state legislators want to just throw up their hands and say, ‘Listen Washington, y’all come run our states. We think you all can do a better job of running our states than we can,’” Perry said.

EPA has said the action is necessary because Texas isn’t in compliance with the federal Clean Air Act.